Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas from the Michigan Lansing Mission! We hope your hearts are filled with thoughts of the Savior's divine birth, incomparable life, and infinite atoning sacrifice. We hope you are near loved ones either in person or virtually and finding a way to connect even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Over the years, I have tried to teach my children that life is full of ups and downs. One of the tricks is to realize that when you are in a down spot, there is an up just around the corner. In the mission field, you feel this truth in double time. 

Most missionaries are thriving and doing well during these unprecedented times. They were made for this day in their ability to quickly adapt, use technology, and work hard regardless of the circumstances. But there are also missionaries who will have amazing experiences and at seemingly the same time struggle with anxiety and depression - some of it as a result of what I called "COVID fatigue." I don't think that's a medical term, but if feels like it should be. A few missionaries don't believe in their ability to finish and want to go home early even though they are not sick or depressed. Some finish their mission time in a service mission, which is wonderful, and others are just done. 

There are all kinds of rumors floating around about missionaries returning to their original missions. We tend not to believe anything until a COVID test is passed, flight plans arrive, and all the forms are in hand. And even then, sometimes a missionary only makes it as far as New York City to then be told that he and a few other missionaries have expired visas and need to return to where they came from. That circumstance has only happened once, but it's an example of the ups and downs these missionaries endure. Most of them endure joyfully. Some missionaries want to return to their original assignments. Others would be perfectly happy to stay in Michigan. All have been willing to do whatever is asked of them to help God's children wherever they are assigned. We have had missionaries return to original assignments in Germany, Japan, Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, and the Republic of the Congo. Who knew that Africa would be one of the safer places in this global pandemic? It is hard to let them go because we love them so much. In the wee hours of one cold winter morning, our Assistants met us at the Lansing Airport to see off three elders returning to Ghana and the Congo - a zone leader and two district leaders. Really, the only thing I could say (and perhaps it was a little snarky) was, "You're welcome, Africa."

In January, we will see our first group of missionaries who were originally assigned to other missions, but who never made it there due to COVID, go to their original missions. They are headed to the United Kingdom and Africa. 

Earlier in the month, we said goodbye to two groups of missionaries who finished their missionary service in the MLM. There were two groups of 10 missionaries for a total of 20 missionaries lost to the MLM plus seven who took off for their original assignments. Losing 27 missionaries in a month is tough. We look forward to the day when we have a transfer that is not tricky. Of the 20 missionaries who finished, 14 were sister missionaries. Ouch! We also said goodbye to Elder Schmanski - he of the "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey fame (apparently a favorite hymn around here). He and Elder Griffin (who finished in October) were our original Assistants. Both were phenomenal teachers, consecrated missionaries, and beloved in the mission. A few tears creep out (mine not Elmer's) when we have to say "until we meet again" to our missionaries at the airport. 

We recently finished our second Sprint Week. We had the first one in October soon after General Conference and feel like we are still seeing the blessings from our efforts. What is Sprint Week, you ask? We got the idea for the name from our morning exercise routine. We always workout. It is usually a combination of walking, jogging, and running. But every once in a while, we sprint. You may not know by looking at our 56- and 60-year-old selves that we are sprinting, but on the inside we are! Missionaries work hard all the time. But sometimes we set some goals to do a little more since, "The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can't come without it." (President Russell M. Nelson, April 2020 General Conference) President Nelson Clip

In both Sprint Weeks, we focused on Spirit-led invitations: invitations to come to church, invitations to read the Book of Mormon, invitations to be taught more about gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the members, invitations to meet with the missionaries to discuss the two great commandments to love God and love our neighbors. In October, we set a goal to extend 2,250 invitations mission-wide. By the end of the week, the missionaries had extended 3,539 invitations. In our second Sprint Week, the mission wanted to see if we could stretch a little more, and a goal for 4,000 invitations was set. The missionaries crushed it and extended 5,101 invitations. #letsgo 

Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. In Moses 1:39, we learn that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's work is to bring  immortality and eternal life to mankind. Thus, that aim is our work as well - to be instruments in God's hands in bringing His work to pass. Every person who has every lived, now lives, and will live is a beloved daughter or son of our Heavenly Father, and He wants His children to progress so that someday we can all return to live with Him and His Son again. 

In shocking news, our dear friend, Doug Sweeney, passed away on December 7th. His wife is my lifelong friend, Kristen, whom many of you know. Doug and Kristen. Kristen and Doug. I can remember when I said one name without the other, but it's been many, many years. Kristen became my best friend way back in 1972. We met Doug in 1978. They married young and had a beautiful family that we fondly call Sweeney Nation as it continues to grow and grow. My favorite part of their story is who they became individually and together in their desire to follow Jesus Christ. Doug was a builder of both homes and of people. He had an analytical mind and a tender heart. I treasure the many conversations Doug, Kristen, Elmer and I had over the years about many things, but I think our favorite topic had to be our children - until we had grandchildren, of course. We could talk for hours about how to raise faithful children and help them reach their potential, how to best serve in the Church, and of course, there were many fun conversations and outings to satisfy our shared passions for sports and food. Doug and Kristen love our kids, and we love theirs. We have been more family than friends. Doug is like a brother for us, so it has been hard not to be with the Sweeney family in Arizona at this time.

We've had Lindsey, Ammon, and Jane here in Michigan and also Gavin and his girlfriend, Marnie Burnett, who recently returned from her mission in Hawaii. It feels great to have family in the mission home, and we were able to dedicate this home while all the kids were here.

We love you and hope you are all safe and well!

Elmer and Amy

December 2nd Departures: Sister Riana Johnson, Sister Madeline Jacobs, Sister Savannah Cook, Sister Kamysha Henneberry, Sister Kamryn Prock, Sister Alison Stahle, Sister Jordyn Naef, us, Elder Todd Thorum, Elder Jacob Farnsley, Elder Trenton Davis.

Well done, Elders and Sisters!

Last photos in the mission are bittersweet. Thanks for not making us feel like giants, Sister Cook!

Saying goodbye to Elder Davis

With Sister Stahle

The tradition is to take one final selfie before they fly off, send their love, and say farewell in the mission chat.

December 2nd - Welcoming our new missionaries

Elmer receiving his first lesson on how to use the snow blower from Don Solomon . You have to love it when you find a Hawaiian living in Michigan!

The Sisters of Kalamazoo

Some of the Elders of Kalamazoo

Elder Bennion, Elder Schmanski, President Gentile, Elder Bonsignore

Elders Jevne & Lloyd of Kalamazoo 3 and Elders Twitchell and Olsen of WMU 3 - fellow missionaries and flatmates

A visit from the Arnetts

The Sisters of Grand Rapids

Selfies of Elder Pepa that I like to find on my phone

Elder Filler and Elder Schmanski

How I remember to give missionaries their name badges

You're welcome, Africa - with Elder Young, Elder Arnett, and Elder Wendel

Sending Elder Mason Scott back to Ghana

The Sisters of Traverse City

Sister Johnson of Cadillac, Sister Klusman of Kalkaska, and Sister Hansen of Cheboygan 

(or as well call it Chegirlgan)

The Three Amigos/Assistants - Elder Pepa, Elder Schmanski and Elder Bennion

President and Elder Ibarra

With the Elders of Alpena - Elder Gams, Elder Tolson, and Elder Hansen

President and his cousin, Elder Williams

President and Elder Hatch

Sending Elder Bell back to Uganda

Sister Klusman and me - SoCal girls stick together in Michigan

Proof that we are out exercising even when it's 20 degrees

Great lesson with Sister Gill and Sister Wilson of Sturgis

December 16th Departures: Sister Savannah Brown, Sister Krystal Edwards, Sister Jaynie Van Quill, Sister Mykella Kelsch, Sister Shalice Bascom, Sister Jessica Schloemer, Sister Kalani Wallace, Sister Bethany Schulthies, us, Elder Schmanski, Elder Bennion (not departing), Elder Samuel Denison, Elder Hunter Davis, Elder Pepa (not departing), and Sister and Elder Reid (also not departing - thank goodness)

At the airport

One more Elder Pepa selfie

Last mission photo with Elder Schmanski

Farewell to the MLM

Taking Sister Bascom to the airport for her later flight

My 50th trip to the airport in 5 months - Sending Elder Sherman back to the Botswana/Namibia Mission

The Sisters of the Lansing and Jackson Zones

The Elders of the Lansing and Jackson Zones

The Heap Family's first zone conference in the MLM

Silver Beach, St. Joseph - Lake Michigan

With one of Michigan's 247 lighthouses in the background - Jane is done posing

Ammon, Jane, and Lindsey

Gavin and Marnie

Douglas Sweeney

With Kristen and Doug about five years ago

A day at the beach - our happy place

Doug was always serving others. Seen here getting the beach umbrella in the exact spot I wanted it.

A gathering with the Sweeney and Heap families

Brady is 3!